It’s a double-edged sword for NBC Peacock: on the one hand they have Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail developing a Battlestar Galactica spin-off series. That makes this geek very happy. On the other hand, it is one of only two science fiction series they have in development. Clearly, if you’re a sci-fi fan, NBC’s Peacock isn’t essential.
CHECK OUT: The best shows that will stream exclusively on NBC’s Peacock in 2020
Major mistakes
What’s ironic is that with Battlestar Galactica, Peacock have one of the better science fiction shows ever made. This one light in a black sci-fi tunnel on Peacock is almost identical to what CBS All Access have with Star Trek: Picard. Having one flagship property from a genre you don’t fully support is a recipe for disaster in the long-term.
NBC should forget science fiction, because it doesn’t fit their core audience. Instead, license out Battlestar Galactica and Sam Esmail’s vision for a massive fee. It sounds crazy, but having one or two essential shows from a genre you don’t mass support is a recipe for piracy. That’s especially so when everyone is going to have that one flagship show.
CHECK OUT: Peacock smartly looking at the market for reboots
NBC’s audience
Between 2019 and 2020 NBC’s most popular content included:
- Sunday Night Football
- This Is Us
- Chicago P.D, Fire, and Med
- New Amsterdam
- The Voice
- Law & Order: SVU
- The Good Place
- Superstore
- The Black List
- Will & Grace
NBC’s viewers aren’t watching for science fiction, so wasting time on a Battlestar Galactica spin-off is madness. It’d be worth a lot of money in this market of exclusives and brands.
That money could then be put to better use by NBC Peacock by supporting content that fits their audience. For example, more shows like Chicago Med and Law & Order.
In this analyst’s opinion, this is the only way NBC Peacock will thrive in a streaming market: by focusing on their existing audience and converting them to subscribers.